On Thursday, a majority of House Republicans voted to defeat the appropriations budget for the Idaho Commission for Libraries. House Bill 824 died in a 33-36 vote. The legislation had been reworked twice, and objections from legislators led to $307,000 being cut from the commission’s budget, which would eliminate a statewide e-book collection. The ongoing money had been used annually …
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House Republicans fast-tracked a bill to make sweeping changes to the Idaho Judicial Council, which is responsible for delivering a slate of vetted candidates to the governor for judicial appointments, like a supreme court justice or district judge. House Bill 782 passed the body in a 44-24 vote Friday and now heads to the Senate. The bill expands the council …
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Idaho House Democrats supported a motion to send House Bill 509 to general orders, where legislation can be amended. The motion failed on a 26-41vote. The bill, which later passed the House, increases the grocery tax credit by $20 per person starting in the 2023 tax year. The motion sought to amend the legislation to instead repeal the grocery tax …
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I’ve knocked on nearly 30,000 doors and spoke with thousands of people from across the political spectrum in my district. This experience has taught me that good ideas and good people come from all directions. It has also helped me define the difference between a politician and a statesman. A politician tends to only represent the people who vote for …
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On Wednesday, the House Commerce and Human Resources Committee refused to introduce legislation to allow employees suffering with work-related post-traumatic stress injury (PTSI) to seek workers’ compensation. The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Sally Toone (D-Gooding), died on a 5-7 vote. It would have added a new section to the state Workers’ Compensation system to cover treatment for PTSI for employees …
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Amid Idaho’s growing housing crisis, the House GOP passed legislation to remove renter protections in a 54-14 vote. House Bill 442 would prevent cities from setting reasonable maximum fees or deposits for residential rental properties, like application fees or pet deposits. With cities unable to ensure these basic protections, there are no checks on unscrupulous landlords who can bankrupt families …
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Legislation to ban conversion therapy for LGBTQ youth under 18 years old was introduced Thursday in the House Health and Welfare Committee. House Bill 483, sponsored by Rep. John McCrostie, received almost unanimous support for a full hearing. It mirrors recent legislation approved in Utah in 2020. Currently, 20 states have outlawed conversion therapy for minors. McCrostie said conversion therapy …
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We came into this session with high hopes for what we could accomplish for Idahoans. Our strong revenues meant we could finally deliver broadly shared priorities that have been on the back burner for too long: reducing property taxes, repealing the sales tax on groceries, and strengthening our schools. Last year’s lopsided tax bill favored profitable corporations and people at …
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The GOP railroaded a lopsided tax proposal through the House that overwhelmingly benefits profitable corporations and people with the highest incomes. House Bill 436 passed and now moves to the Senate. All Democrats voted against the legislation, and instead advocated more critical tax solutions, such as reducing property taxes or repealing the sales tax on groceries — both of which …
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The GOP fast tracked a lopsided tax proposal out of committee Tuesday that overwhelmingly benefits profitable corporations and people with the highest incomes. The House Revenue and Taxation Committee forwarded House Bill 436 to the full body in a party-line vote following the public hearing. Every constituent who testified spoke against the bill; only lobbyists were in favor. Per the …
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